Max Legroom

Does anyone know of a good photo of the space under the non-boiler versions where the boiler water tank would have been located? The Heljan version has a horizontal plate that appears to be the top of the missing water tank but it would be good to see a decent photo before I take a scalpel to the loco. Any help much appreciated.

Thanks Stovepipe 27030/D5377 is the particular loco I'm thinking of. I wonder when it received the brackets. Photos suggest it had them by 1978 but I'm looking at the GFYE version. I think I may have to leave out the plows unless anyone knows otherwise. All the best Max

Were all of the Class 27s fitted with brackets for the mini plows from new? I'm thinking in particular of the non-boiler batch allocated to NE England. I've seen photos of them with plows fitted in the late 1970s but I'm wondering if I could get away with fitting plows to an early 70s green version.

Here are a couple of in progress shots of the bridge, retaining wall and embankment.

I've painted and weathered the track. As usual, the photos show up all the areas that the paint missed! The tracks around the fuel point are mainly black, from all the spilt fuel and oil I guess. The rear track is not used as much so I have painted the sleepers and used washes of dirty brown. The idea is to create the impression of old, poorly maintained track. All the sleepers have had a light dry-brush of beige. Another test run with a couple of short wheelbase locos. The Bachmann 04 has a new coat of paint to represent an industrial. It needs a few dirty washes and a bit of dry brushing on those side grills. I always liked this model but it does look quite crude compared to more recent stuff. I was looking at the real DH16 on Monday. Those cab-top vents should be removed but I'm not sure I fancy the task. Next up is ballasting. Mainly black ballast with a bit of grey and brown thrown in. Not my favourite job! All the best Max

Yes, a very strange choice especially as the blue version would be ideal for all of those 1970s ScR layouts. I know renumbering is fairly straightforward but surely it would be better if the manufacturer got it right to start with.

Progress at last! A coat of black paint and the track is now glued down. The wiring is very basic. I plonked a Heljan 27 down and turned on the power....nothing. I tried a class 26 and still no response. How could I have messed up such simple wiring? Finally I tried a trusty Bachmann 24 and everything worked perfectly! Say what you like about Bachmann locos but they are bulletproof. I'm hoping the Heljan pair just need clean wheels. The left-hand switch routes the power to either running line. Next up is painting the track. Not such a chore on a layout this size so I think I might even paint some of the sleepers.

If it's anywhere near as good as your Crinan layout then I can't wait to see it!

Hi Ben The Scalescenes depot looks really good. I think they only do a two-track version but could be wrong. My plan is to build the depot using scrap Wills and Pikestuff material that I have lying around but I'll have another look at the Scalescene depot. I think I'm going to go ahead with the idea of the cab end of a class 20 in the open door. Max

If I was starting my collection now then I would probably go for the pre-TOPS 1970s. I can just visualize 27s, 29s and the odd Clayton in a mix of liveries and yellow ends. Maybe when the Dapol 29 finally arrives.....

Hi Martyn No further progress because of other commitments (the usual excuse!) but hopefully I'll get a chance to do some work on the project very soon. I know that the diesel depot/fuelling point layout has become something of a cliche but it really is the only way of cramming a few locos onto a small layout as far as I can tell. I did think about a parcels depot or an engineers yard as I've got the rolling stock but I couldn't justify more than one loco (or two at a push) locos with either scheme. All the best Max

Hi Alex Really looking forward to following your layout. Max

I've just discovered this thread and have really enjoyed your handiwork. You really can't have too many Peaks!

Hi Russ Thanks for posting your photo. Yes, the distant skyline may be just the thing. I'm thinking along the lines of layered background flats at the moment though I really should get on with the track! Best wishes Max

Thank you for the info on the software - very useful. I think Photoshop would probably be wasted on my limited abilities! My phone can take a panoramic photo so that could be an option though Glasgow is 400 miles away. The Bristol area might be a better option. My initial thoughts were to stitch together a few images found online and make interchangeable scenic flats to sit in front of a suitably grey sky. Part of the fun of a small project like this is the opportunity to experiment with different ideas.

I'm thinking of some kind of removable backscene for the right-hand end. Typical Glasgow tenements for the ScR version but maybe a highland alternative to suggest somewhere around Inverness and a Bristol area alternative too. However, I may have to invest in some photo-editing software for this to happen. All just ideas at this stage. One thing I do plan to build is a low-relief front of a maintenance shed for the middle track rather than a buffer stop. I was thinking of a yellow/black striped door and the job of painting those stripes when the thought occurred that I could have an open door and the front of a loco inside. A quick look in the junk box produced an old Lima class 20 in BR blue that would cover the early 70s through to the mid 80s. Just need to chop off the cab! I was pondering a Lima class 37 but that had the cutaway buffer and plated over headcode box and a Bachmann Peak would have been too restricted as well. Actually the Lima 20 wasn't a bad model for it's time - just a shame that the drive only went to one bogie.

Hi all My main interest is US HO set in the 1950s to 1970s (the Milan and Cairo RR) with a sideline in narrow gauge for a bit of escapism. However, I've also been building up a collection of BR OO stock for an Ian Futers inspired Scottish 1970s layout that will probably remain just a dream due to lack of space. I've also collected one or two other diesels over the years. It seems a shame not to display them occasionally so thoughts turned to a micro, and a small fueling point seemed to be the obvious answer. It had to be small with a bit of operating potential and reuse material left over from previous projects. A rummage around found enough 6mm plywood to make the combined baseboard/backscene. It's held together with PVA, Peco trackpins and four pieces of pine in the corners for extra strength. Overall size is about three feet by one foot. I've already drilled out the holes for the isolating sections switches along the front. It really is very basic! Track is recycled Peco code 75 and here is the rough trackplan. The fiddle yard will take up the left-hand third with an overbridge separating the scenic section. I plan to use Peco Loco Lifts to move the stock in the fiddle yard. More to follow. All the best Max

Your scenery is looking really good. That, and the nice simple trackplan, really capture the atmosphere of that part of the US.

I think the combination of photo backscenes and micro layouts has massive potential that has yet to be fully realised. With decent software to produce the backscenes and low-relief buildings, and a generic trackplan it should be relatively straightforward to change location and create loads of atmosphere.

Thank you for posting these photos. There is something very haunting and desolate about an abandoned track and the flat countryside just adds to this atmosphere. When I was a kind in the early 1970s there seemed to be abandoned bits of railway all over the place.

Here are a couple of shots of the overhead coal conveyor. This just about completes the layout so I thought it would be a good time to review the layout. The big plus for me has been the running qualities of the Kato and Bachmann chassis. The Minitrains Plymouth isn't the best runner. As for the stock, the new Minitrains stuff runs nicely but some of the older second-hand Roco cars hardly roll and I made the mistake of adding too much weight to them which made them unmovable! The big plus has to be the overall appearance and especially the use of the vertical. I spent a lot of time doodling and this paid off. The idea was that the layout could be viewed from lots of different angles and I'm really pleased how this has turned out. If I get bored of the view I can just turn the layout through 90 degrees. The biggest disappointment has to be the Peco turnouts though I didn't help things by relying on the blades to route the power. With hindsight I would have wired through the turnouts and put in extra section breaks. The layout was designed with some operating potential but in reality it's more a case of watching the trains go round. All of this has got me thinking about a HO end-to-end version, set in either the 1950s to include some steam or the 1970s. Happy new year! Max

I couldn't resist one of these little beauties for the 1970s Scottish layout I hope to build one day! Here it is with a cruder US cousin on the Milan and Cairo RR. The Bachmann Fairmont has added side curtains to hide the interior and actually runs very well.

It wasn't any of these but thank you for sending the links. I could watch this stuff all day! I'll try to find the original posting as it is well worth watching for an incredible mountain climbing micro. I think it may have been posted by Shortliner.

Thank you for your kind comment. I'm putting together the conveyor for the mine loader at the moment and I think the layout will then be finished apart from the odd grass cluster here and there. I can recommend the film!

Those Lisbon trams are excellent little models when you think that they are intended for tourists. I must admit that I've got one stashed away for a possible future micro layout. I think the idea of a pizza-style layout is very good. A couple of the trams and maybe a maintenance car is all you would need.